Dual shower head attachment device

ABSTRACT

An attachment device for converting a single shower head personal shower installation or to dual, opposed shower head installation to provide for showering from each side of the shower enclosure or recess, is described. A rigid conduit pipe, threaded at one end for connection with a shower installation shower water outlet fitting at one end of the shower recess or enclosure in substitution for the usual single shower head arm, is provided along its length with a pair of longitudinally-spaced shower heads and, at its outer end, is provided with adjustable thrust abutment means for frictional engagement with the opposite wall of the shower recess or enclosure in securing the attachment device in place. A control valve in the path of flow to the two shower heads provides for selective control of shower water thereto for independent or dual use in showering.

nited States Patent 1191 Wilson DUAL SHOWER HEAD ATTACHMENT DEVICE [76]Inventor: Mark L. Wilson, 88102 NE. 25th FL, Miami, Fla. 33160 [22]Filed: Sept. 4, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 394,122

[52] U.S. Cl..- 239/267, 239/282, 239/444, 239/55l,4/l45 [51] Int. ClB05b 15/06 [58] Field of Search 4/145, 148, 152; 239/207, 239/266, 267,268, 282, 444, 562, 551

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,207,380 12/1916 2,277,5623/1942 2,336,402 12 1943 3,033,470 5/1962 3,425,632 2/l969 Stout 239/267July 9, 1974 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. AssistantExaminer'John J. Love Attorney, Agent, or FirmEmest H. Schmidt ABSTRACTAn attachment device for converting a single shower head personal showerinstallation or to dual, opposed shower head installation to provide forshowering from each side of the shower enclosure or recess, isdescribed. A rigid conduit pipe, threaded, at one end for connectionwith a shower installation shower water outlet fitting at one end of theshower recess or enclosure in substitution for the usual single showerhead arm, is provided along its length with a pair oflongitudinally-spaced shower heads and, at its outer end, is providedwith adjustable thrust abutment means for frictional engagement with theopposite wall of the shower recess or enclosure in securing theattachment device in place. A control valve in the path of flow to thetwo shower heads provides for selective control of shower water theretofor independent or dual use in' showering.

5 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure DUAL SHOWER HEAD ATTACHMENT DEVICE Thisinvention relates to personal showers and is directed particularly to adual shower head assembly for use in substitution for the usual singleshower head assembly in personal shower enclosures.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a dual showerhead attachment device which, upon installation, provides a pair ofelevated shower heads spraying inwardly from each side of a personalshower enclosure, thereby enabling two persons to shower independentlyat the same time or, alternatively, one person, standing centrally inthe shower enclosure, to be showered from each side for more rapid andeffective cleansing.

Yet another object is to provide a dual shower head attachment devicethat is particularlywell suited to installation and use in associationwith a standard bathtub by simple substitution for the usual shower headarm pipe installed within a tub wall of the associated tub enclosurerecess.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dual shower headattachement device of the above nature which, at one end, threads intothe shower water outlet fitting within the wall at one end of a bathtubenclosure and which, at the other end, is provided with adjustable meansenabling abutting thrust securement to the opposite tub enclosure wall.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dual shower headattachment device of the character described which will be simple inconstruction, easy to install, attractive in appearance, light inweight, and durable and effective in use.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following desccription when read with reference to the singleFIGURE of the accompanying drawing, indicating, in elevation, anordinary bathtub and portions of its enclosure recess and illustrating adual shower head attachment device embodying theinvention assembledthereto.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, reference numeral designates,generally, a dual shower head attachment device embodying the inventionassembled for use between the head and foot walls 11, 12, respectively,of a bathroom tub recess R partially surrounding a standard built-in tubT. The attachment device 10 comprises a short, externally-threadednipple 13 at one end fitted to andextending outwardly of a two-way flowcontrol valve 14. The in-line outlet port of the control valve 14communicates with a first co-axial length of pipe 15, which connects,through a coupling member 16, with a second co-axial length of pipe 17.

The second length of pipe 17 connects with a T-fitting 18, the coaxialoutlet port of which is connected with a short length of pipe 19,co-axial with the first and second lengths of pipe and 17. The shortlength of pipe 19, as is hereinbelow more particularly described, servesas part of the support mechanism for the attachment device 10 and istherefore plugged, as by a plug member screw-threaded into an interiorthread provided at the outer end of said pipe. Alternatively, a solidrod could be substituted for the length of pipe 19, thereby dispensingwith the plug member 20. Exteriorly threaded to the outer end of theshort lengthof pipe 19 is an intemally-threaded coupling member 21 intothe outer end of which is adjustably threaded a headed abutment member22, the outer end of which is provided with a resilient friction pad 23,such as of hard rubber. The overall length of the attachment device 10from just short of the outer end of the nipple 13 and the outer end ofthe friction pad 23 is approximately 5 feet, corresponding to thedistance between the opposite end walls of the recess within which astandard bathtub is installed. The length of the coupling member 21 andits associated abutment member 22 is such as to pro vide about twoinches of overall length adjustment of the attachment device 10,allowing for sufficient length adjustment to accommodate a wide range ofvariation in the spacing between the end walls of an ordinary 5 tubrecess.

The perpendicular outlet ports of the two-way flow control valve 14 andthe T-fitting 18 extend in the same direction and are fitted with curvedmutually inwardlydirected shower head arms 24, 25 the outer ends ofwhich connect with adjustable shower heads 26, 27 controlled byadjustment levers 28, 29, respectively.

In use, the usual curved shower head arm (not illus' trated) of anordinary tub shower installation will be removed from theinternally-threaded fitting F installed within the wall 12 at the footof the tub, after which the nipple 13 of the attachment device 10 willbe threaded in place in substituion. In order to permit suchinstallation of the attachment device 10 it will ordinarily first benecessary to adjust the abutment member 22 to its innermost positionwithin the coupling member 21. After the attachment device has thus beensecurely threaded inplace with the shower heads 26 and downwardly,extending donwardly, and with the longitudinal axis of the deviceextending horizontally and substantially in the perpendicular directionwith respect to the opposing tub recess walls 11 and 12, the abutmentmember 23 will be unscrewed from the coupling member 22, to extend theoverall length of the attachment device to such an extent that thefriction pad 24 abuts against the tub recess wall at the head of thetub, thereby securely wedging the attachment device in its installedposition, ready for use.

In use, the tub shower controls, (not illustrated) will be operated inthe usual manner to supply shower water to the supply fitting F,whereupon it will flow through either one or both, selectively, of theshower heads 26 and 27, depending upon the setting of the control valve14. In this connection it is to be noted that the control valve willadjustably control flow to the shower heads so that shower strength canbe varied from strong to weak, selectively, as well as off. The showerhead adjustment levers 28, 29 serve additionally to control the flowforce of their associated shower heads 26, 27. Thus, one person caneither usethe dual shower head attachment device as an ordinary singleshower head shower or, by activating both shower heads-upon adjustmentof the flow control valve 14, can be showered upon from each side formore effecient and rapid showering. In instances when two people wish toshower independently but at the same time,

such as a mother and small child, the device is particularlyadvantageous.

Although the attachment device 10 can conveniently and economically befabricated of ordinary metal piping and fittings, such as of copper,brass or galvanized iron, it will preferably be fabricated of syntheticplastic material, such as of PVC piping and fittings, for economy andlightness in weight. For shipping purposes, the coupling member 17 willbe secured to only one of its associated pipe lengths l5 and 17 withconnection being made upon installation. If fabricated of PVC plasticmaterial, the dual shower head attachment device could be supplied as akit with a tube of cement for effecting the in-line connection of thepipe lengths and 17. It is also contemplated that such a kit could besupplied with long enough pipe lengths 15 and 17 to permit cutting tosize to fit shower enclosures of various widths.

While I have illustrated and described herein only one form in which myinvention can conveniently be embodied in practice, it is to beunderstood that this form is given by way of example only, and not in alimiting sense. The invention, in brief, comprises all the embodimentsand modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the followingclaims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A dual shower head attachment device comprising, in combination, atwo-way flow control valve having an inlet port, an in-line outlet portand a perpendicularly-directed outlet port, a threaded nipple connectedwith said valve inlet port and adapted for screw-thread connection withan internally-threaded shower water outlet fitting in a side wall of ashower enclosure, a T-fitting having an inlet port, an in-line outletport and a perpendicularly-directed outlet port, an elongated conduitcommunicatingly interconnecting said oulet port of said control valvewith said inlet port of said T-fitting, adjustable abutment meansextending co-axially outwardly of said outlet port of said T-fitting,said abutment means comprising a friction pad adjustably-extensible withrespect to said elongated conduit, a pair of shower heads, and conduitmeans communicatingly interconnecting one each of said shower heads withsaid perpendicularly-directed outlet port of said control valve and saidperpendicularly directed outlet port of said T-fitting, respectively.

2. A dual head attachment device as defined in claim 1, wherein saidelongated conduit comprises a first length of pipe, a second length ofpipe and a coupling member interconnecting said first and said secondlengths of pipe in co-axial relation.

3. A dual head attachmnet device as defined in claim 1, wherein saidadjustable abutment means comprises a comparatively short length of pipeconnected at one end to said in-line outlet portof said T-fitting, aninternally threaded coupling member secured at one end to the other endof said comparatively short length of pipe, and a headed abutment memberhaving an externally-threaded portion adjustably received within theouter end of said internally-threaded coupling member.

4. A dual head attachment device as defined in claim 3, wherein saidfriction pad is in the form of a hard rubber member secured against theouter end of said headed abutment member.

5. A dual head attachment device as defined in claim 4, wherein each ofsaid shower heads is provided with manual control means for adjustingthe strength of shower water flow.

1. A dual shower head attachment device comprising, in combination, atwo-way flow control valve having an inlet port, an in-line outlet portand a perpendicularly-directed outlet port, a threaded nipple connectedwith said valve inlet port and adapted for screw-thread connection withan internally-threaded shower water outlet fitting in a side wall of ashower enclosure, a T-fitting having an inlet port, an in-line outletport and a perpendicularly-directed outlet port, an elongated conduitcommunicatingly interconnecting said oulet port of said control valvewith said inlet port of said T-fitting, adjustable abutment meansextending co-axially outwardly of said outlet port of said T-fitting,said abutment means comprising a friction pad adjustably-extensible withrespect to said elongated conduit, a pair of shower heads, and conduitmeans communicatingly interconnecting one each of said shower heads withsaid perpendicularly-directed outlet port of said control valve and saidperpendicularly directed outlet port of said T-fitting, respectively. 2.A dual head attachment device as defined in claim 1, wherein saidelongated conduit comprises a first length of pipe, a second length ofpipe and a coupling member interconnecting said first and said secondlengths of pipe in co-axial relation.
 3. A dual head attachmnet deviceas defined in claim 1, wherein said adjustable abutment means comprisesa comparatively short length of pipe connected at one end to saidin-line outlet port of said T-fitting, an internally threaded couplingmember secured at one end to the other end of said comparatively shortlength of pipe, and a headed abutment member having anexternally-threaded portion adjustably received within the outer end ofsaid internally-threaded coupling member.
 4. A dual head attachmentdevice as defined in claim 3, wherein said friction pad is in the formof a hard rubber member secured against the outer end of said headedabutment member.
 5. A dual head attachment device as defined in claim 4,wherein each of said shower heads is provided with manual control meansfor adjusting the strength of shower water flow.